27 Jan 2019

Far-right antisemitism biggest threat to Jews worldwide: report
Far-right antisemitic incidents are now the most serious threat to Jewish communities around the world, principally in Europe and the US, the Diaspora Affairs Ministry’s annual global report has stated. Record high levels of antisemitism on the streets and online were also recorded, with approximately 70% of anti-Jewish attacks related to anti-Israel attitudes.

Jolo church attack: Many killed in Philippines
Two bombs at a Roman Catholic cathedral in southern Philippines have killed 20 people and injured dozens more, local officials say. The first blast happened as Sunday Mass was being celebrated at the church on Jolo island, where Islamist militants are active. As soldiers responded, a second device was detonated in the car park.

Kurdish protesters storm Turkish military camp in Iraq
At least one person has died and 10 have been injured after an angry crowd stormed a Turkish military camp in Iraq’s Kurdish region. Residents set light to vehicles and buildings in protest against Turkish airstrikes in the area, which are said to have killed several people. Turkey conducts frequent raids against the militant group, the PKK, which is based on the Iraqi side of the border.

Israel strikes in Syria could prompt strike on Tel Aviv -Hezbollah leader
The “axis of resistance” of Iran, Syria and Hezbollah could respond to Israeli strikes on Iran and Hezbollah in Syria with their own attack on Tel Aviv, Hezbollah’s leader said on Saturday. They were deliberating a response to escalating Israeli strikes and could change their approach “at any moment” Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in an interview with al-Mayadeen TV.

U.S. government agencies gear up to restart operations Monday
U.S. government agencies that had largely shuttered operations for five weeks during a budget standoff said on Saturday they were moving swiftly to resume operations and compensate employees for missed paychecks. The White House held a conference call with Cabinet department financial officers late Friday to discuss the resumption of government operations, while agencies began to grapple with a backlog of management and policy issues.

Hezbollah could ‘for years’ enter Israel, group’s leader says after tunnels found
Iran-backed Hezbollah has “for years” been able to enter Israel, the Lebanese group’s leader said on Saturday, responding for the first time to Israel’s discovery of tunnels dug into Israeli territory from Lebanon. Israel’s unveiling of what it called Hezbollah “attack tunnels” last month, and Lebanon’s accusation that an Israeli border barrier crosses into its territory, have increased tensions.

Ebola death toll surges in DR Congo
The number of people killed in an Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has risen to 443, health authorities have announced, as new President Felix Tshisekedi began his first full day in office on Friday.

Iran Nuclear Chief: ‘We have replacements for equipment we agreed to destroy’
Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said in a television interview this week that the negotiations surrounding the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement had required Iran to destroy the Arak reactor’s calandria by filling it with cement, but Iran had secretly acquired replacement tubes ahead of time so that the reactor’s functionality would not be ultimately affected.